Daniel Day-Lewis modestly declared it "daft" to call him the best actor who has ever lived after winning an unprecedented third Best Actor Oscar.

Hours after picking up his award the 55-year-old British star of Lincoln was to be found quietly reflecting on his unique achievement away from the throng in a secluded corner of the Vanity Fair party hosted by Graydon Carter.

Asked how it felt to be referred to as "the world's greatest actor," he laughed and looked more than a little embarrassed, telling The Daily Telegraph: "It's daft isn't it?" Shaking his head, he added: "Sean (Penn) had to go through all this a few years ago. It changes all the time."

While others might relish the spotlight Day-Lewis, who never courts publicity away from the screen, seemed somewhat relieved that his latest, taxing metamorphosis into the 16th US president, was at an end. He was also completely unsure of what he will do next.

Meryl Streep presents the trophy for Best Actor to Daniel Day-Lewis for "Lincoln".

Asked what his plans were he said "I don't know where I'm going," but added that he wants to use the time he doesn't spend acting to "re-engage with life."

Probed on what his non-acting pursuits will be the private star smiled and said: "Things." He is known to enjoy fishing at his home in Ireland.

Sadly for fans Day-Lewis said he has "no plans" at the moment to make another movie. But he said he was very grateful for all the support he received from friends in the UK in the run-up to this year's Oscars. He added: "The thing is I forgot my phone tonight, and I'm sure my mates in the UK will have been phoning."

Day-Lewis, who previously won for My Left Foot in 1990 and There Will Be Blood in 2008, has now superseded the eight other men to win two Best Actor Oscars – Marlon Brando, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks and Sean Penn.

Speaking back stage moments after his win he suggested that cinemagoers may have a long wait to see a potential fourth Oscar performance, saying he could not think of anyone else he wanted to play.

He said: "I can't think of anyone right now because I need to lie down for a couple of years. It's really hard to imagine doing anything after this."

The meticulously methodical actor, who stayed in character throughout the filming of Lincoln, joked: "I'm definitely out of character at this moment.

If I slip back into it by mistake, you can do an intervention of some kind, the Heimlich manoeuvre or whatever it is you do for actors stuck in character."

In his acceptance speech he thanked his wife Rebecca Miller, daughter of the playwright Arthur Miller, for having lived with "some very strange men" he had embodied during their 16-year marriage.

He said: "They were strange as individuals and probably even stranger if taken as a group. But luckily she's the versatile one in the family and she's been the perfect companion to all of them."

He added: "I really don't know how any of this happened. I do know that I've received so much more than my fair share of good fortune in my life. And I'm so grateful to the Academy for this beautiful honour."

Hollywood directors and producers are already circling in attempts to entice him into another project, but it seems they will have to wait until he has recharged.

Steve Pond, Oscar analyst for movie industry website The Wrap, said Day-Lewis is now regarded by Hollywood as "the greatest actor of the current day. Historians will decide whether he deserves comparison with the people of the past. But there's no doubt this sealed the deal as our greatest living actor."